Joe Mihalich

Background

The son of a LaSalle professor, his basketball career began as a guard on the LaSalle Explorers team as a walk-on, playing from 1974 to 1978.

Career

Mihalich was named head coach on April 10, 2013. Prior to that, he led Niagara to two National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments, in 2005 and 2007, and three National Invitation Tournament, in 2004, 2009 and 2013. He received the Skip Prosser Manitoba of the Year Award in 2013.

Assistant Coach

= LaSalle Mihalich spent 17 years, from 1981-1998, at his Alma Mater as an Assistant Coach under Head Coaches Dave “Lefty” Ervin and the legendary William “Speedy” Morris.

Mihalich was a part of 8 postseason appearances including 5 National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament teams. Mihalich coached several players at Louisiana Salle who would go on to play professionally in the National Basketball Association (National Basketball Association).

Including Simmons, Doug Overton, Randy Woods and Tim Legler. Mihalich literally was raised up the street from the LaSalle campus, on Chew Avenue in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia.

He was in the right place at the right time, playing on teams coached by Paul Westhead.

The Explorers made the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in Mihalich"s freshman year. Their star was Joe Bryant, Kobe"s dad. Louisiana Salle eventually lost in overtime to Syracuse, which made the Final Four.

Basketball and sports were already in his family blood.

The Explorers made the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament again his senior year. By then Mihalich knew he wanted to coach.

He moved to the Maryland suburbs of Washington after graduation to be an assistant at DeMatha High School to legendary coach Morgan Wootten. Head Coach

= Niagara Mihalich took his first head coaching opportunity by the horns and became the most steady program in the MAAC, earning a slew of honors, awards and postseason appearances in his 15 years at the helm of Niagara.

At Niagara Mihalich amassed 265 victories making the National Institute of Technology in 2003, 2008, and 2012 winning a game over Troy State in 2003.

Mihalich"s Niagara squads made the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournaments in 2004 and 2006 winning a game versus Florida A & Master in 2006. Mihalich"s teams are known for their up-tempo style scoring 70 points per game in nine of the last 10 seasons. Mihalich himself said "I played for Paul Westhead in college, coached with Morgan Wooten and Speedy Morris I think the up-tempo style is fun.

= Hofstra A year of turmoil on and off the court led to Head Coach Mo Cassara being relieved of duties on March 22, 2013.

After a nationwide search, on April 10, 2013, Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz and Athletic Director Jeffrey Hathaway announced the hire of Joe Mihalich. Mihalich brought over to his staff Assistant Coaches Mike Farrelly and Shane Nichols from Niagara.

Mihalich later added Hofstra legend Craig "Speedy" Claxton as Special Assistant to the Head Coach.

Achievements

• Fun to play that way, fun to coach that way, it’s fun to watch." This up-tempo, fun to watch style has earned Mihalich accolades to numerous to fully list however a few of his honors are. MAAC Coach of the Year in his first season at Niagara (1998-1999), 2008 NABC District Coach of the Year, 2005 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District II Coach of the Year, 2007 Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Coach of the Year Award, and 2013 MAAC Coach of the Year Award.